Some wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives specialize in technical and scientific products. These employees sell goods that require some form of technical or scientific knowledge, such as biology, engineering, chemistry, and electronics.

While there are typically no formal education requirements in order to become a sales representative, most workers specializing in the sale of technical and scientific products obtain at least two years of post-secondary education.

There were about 2 million wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives throughout America during 2008, and about 432,900 of those worked with technical and scientific products, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

About 61 percent of all sales representatives work for wholesale companies, while the remainder work for manufacturing, retail, and professional, technical and scientific companies. About 73,800 sales representatives are self-employed.

Employment in Dallas is expected to increase from 7,350 workers during 2006 to 8,350 workers by 2016, resulting in 1,000 additional jobs and an overall growth rate of 13.6 percent, according to the Texas Workforce Commission.

Employment throughout Texas is anticipated to grow from 25,950 workers during 2006 to 30,650 workers by 2016, accounting for 4,700 additional jobs and an overall increase of 18.10 percent.

The top industries that employ wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives in Dallas are:

• Professional and commercial equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers - 17.54 percent
• Drugs and druggists' sundries merchant wholesalers - 14.19 percent
• Wholesale electronic markets, agents and brokers - 5.56 percent
• Computer systems design and related services - 4.70 percent
• Chemical and allied products merchant wholesalers - 4.23 percent
• Electrical and electronic goods merchant wholesalers - 3.98 percent
• Software publishers - 2.84 percent

During 2009, the average wage for wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives in Dallas was $48.94 per hour, while the average wage in Texas was $41.74 per hour and the average national wage was $39.12 per hour.

Sales engineers, which are sometimes referred to as technical sales support workers, are responsible for determining how products and services can be designed or modified to meet customer needs. They also may advise customers how best to use those products or services. Check out this sales job description.

In order to become a sales engineer, you must first obtain a bachelor's degree in engineering, as well as previous work experience in an engineering field. You'll also have to undergo some on-the-job training and work with a sales mentor.

There were about 78,000 sales engineers throughout America during 2008, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and employment should increase by about 9 percent through 2018. However, employment of sales engineers in Arizona is anticipated to remain at roughly the same level during the near future.

Employment of sales engineers in Arizona is expected to increase from 873 workers during 2006 to 874 workers by 2016, accounting for only one additional job and a growth rate of .1 percent. However, there will be an average of 22 job openings each year, according to the Arizona Workforce Informer.

The top industries that employed sales engineers in Arizona during 2006 were:

• Machinery and supply merchant wholesalers - 44.8 percent
• Electric goods merchant wholesalers - 9.5 percent
• Semiconductor and electronic components - 9.3 percent
• Management of companies and enterprises - 7.2 percent

During 2007, the average wage for sales engineers in Arizona was $31.04 per hour, while the average entry-level wage was $18.24 per hour and the average experienced-level wage was $37.44 per hour.

A collaboration of energy and telecommunications companies has announced that it will invest $17.7 million in Consert, a developer of smart grid technology, which the company will use to create 50 new jobs. The investors include: Constellation Energy Group; GE Energy Financial Services; Qualcomm Inc.; Verizon Ventures; and other private investors.

The new positions will mainly be for full-time employees in sales, marketing, engineering and installation. Consert currently employs 26 full-time workers and 27 contractors. The company previously raised more than $5 million in funding from a group of individual investors, according to an article by the Triangle Business Journal.

Consert recently developed software that helps utilities manage power demand by selectively turning off appliances and devices in a home - especially during peak times - in an effort to save money and electricity use.

"This group of investors advances our vision of creating an integrated green energy solution with smart infrastructure, real-time communications, and intelligent in-home devices," Consert CEO Jack Roberts said.

That system is already being used by municipal and cooperative utilities in Texas and North Carolina, and is currently being tested by Wake Electric Membership Corporation in Wake Forest, which has reported that energy savings for participants has ranged anywhere from 7 percent to 54 percent.

Most sales jobs in Texas will grow during the near future, so if you're simply looking for a career that's easy to find, most sales positions should fit your needs.

Let's use the example of sales managers, a popular sales position, according to the Texas Workforce Commission. Employment of sales managers in Texas is expected to increase from 20,000 workers during 2006 to 23,700 workers by 2016, accounting for 3,700 additional jobs and a growth rate of 18.5 percent.

While available positions for most sales jobs will increase in the coming years, some occupations will allow you to earn a higher salary than others. A lot of sales jobs offer a base salary and commission, meaning your overall earning potential will depend on how well you can sell your product.

For that reason, according to an article by Monster, those looking to make the most money should find a service-related position or one that will allow you to sell expensive items to businesses. These types of occupations will yield more money than those that simply deal with consumers.

Here are eight sales jobs that could result in a six-figure salary:

1. Consulting sales - These employees work for companies that sell their expertise to other businesses, meaning the highest commissions will go to workers who can land the biggest contracts. On average, employees earn a base salary between $120,000 per year and $250,000 per year and can earn commissions between $25,000 and $3 million.
2. Consumer packaged goods sales - Employees in this business market packaged goods to grocery stores. They earn an average base salary between $150,000 per year and $180,000 per year and can make commissions between $100,000 and $150,000.
3. Digital media sales - These employees can help companies make the transition from traditional to digital media. They deal with everything from creating banners and buttons to optimizing search engines to distributing IP television, video-on-demand and mobile products. Workers earn an average base salary between $170,000 per year and $180,000 per year and cane make commissions between $130,000 and $220,000.
4. Medical-device sales - This is a great position for people with experience selling equipment or payroll services, as employers in the medical device industry like to hire those with business-to-business selling experience. The average salary ranges between $0 per year and $70,000 per year and employees can earn commissions between $200,000 and $300,000.
5. Outsourced services - This may include selling such things as call center, plant maintenance, office administration, human resources or RPO, payroll and legal compliance services. Employers often prefer to hire those who have experience in the industry they're selling products to. Workers earn an average salary of $150,000 per year to $200,000 per year and can make commissions between $200,000 and $500,000.
6. Software sales - Employees in this industry should know how to combine consultative sales with the right amount of persuasion, and it helps to have some IT experience, because you could be selling everything from recruitment software to accounting software. Workers earn an average salary of $80,000 per year to $100 million per year and can make commissions between $250,000 and $1 million.
7. Start-up business development - These employees work to sell start-up companies, so you'll need to have negotiation skills and a nose for selling technical items to a non-technical audience. Workers earn an average salary of $150,000 per year and cane make unlimited commission.
8. Telecommunications sales - Workers in this industry sell telecommunications products, such as network or security services, to large corporations. They earn an average salary between $70,000 per year to $100,000 per year and can make commissions of $100,000 to $200,000.

Retail salespersons are typically responsible for selling merchandise, such as furniture, motor vehicles, appliances or apparel in a retail establishment. Although these employees aren't paid extremely high wages, they will see plenty of employment opportunities throughout the state during the near future.

In addition, there are no formal education requirements for retail salespersons, as employees usually learn skills through on-the-job training. However, a college degree or years of experience may help employees move into management positions.

According to the Arizona Workforce Informer, the average wage for retail salespersons in Arizona during 2007 was $12.35 per hour, while the average entry-level wage was $7.76 per hour and the experienced-level wage was $14.65 per hour.

Employment throughout the state is expected to increase from 83,366 workers during 2006 to 105,933 workers by 2016, accounting for an average of 4,824 job openings per year and an average overall growth rate of 27.1 percent.

Throughout the nation, employment of retail salespersons is expected to grow by 8 percent between 2008 and 2018, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That means about 374,700 new jobs will crop up during the 10-year period, which is more than expected in almost every other occupation.

The top 15 industries that employ retail salespersons in Arizona include:

1. Department stores - 13.8 percent
2. Building material and supplies dealers - 10.7 percent
3. Clothing stores - 10.3 percent
4. Automobile dealers - 8.3 percent
5. Other general merchandise stores - 6.1 percent
6. Health and personal care stores - 5.1 percent
7. Sporting goods and musical instrument stores - 4.6 percent
8. Electronics and appliance stores - 4.4 percent
9. Furniture stores - 3.6 percent
10. Home furnishings stores - 2.4 percent
11. Shoe stores - 2.2 percent
12. Office supply, stationery and gift stores - 2.2 percent
13. Jewelry, luggage and leather goods stores - 2 percent
14. Book, periodical and music stores - 1.6 percent
15. Other miscellaneous store retailers - 1.6 percent

If you're one of the many people looking for Phoenix sales jobs, check out the positions available with La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries. The company offers many different opportunities as well as great pay and great benefits.

Check out this recruiting video for La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries:

Video By Jobing

BYD Auto Company Limited, a Chinese manufacturer, recently announced its plans to locate the company's North American headquarters in Los Angeles. According to Automotive News, the company's new office and battery and solar panel development center will initially result in about 150 jobs, as well as 1,000 jobs in sales and product support.

The company's Los Angeles headquarters will be responsible for sales, marketing and research and development for BYD's automobiles and energy products, which include solar panels, LED lighting systems, and home and grid level energy storage units.

BYD, which is the first major Chinese automobile company to locate its headquarters in America, is a leader in electric and hybrid vehicle production. The company chose California because of the state's commitment to green policies that create long-term demand for renewable energy automobiles and products.

"California's market-friendly energy and environmental policies are playing a vital role not only in making California more energy secure but also in bringing companies like BYD to our state," Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said. "Like California, BYD is a company of firsts. They are leading China and the rest of the world into a cleaner, more sustainable future with their automobiles and renewable energy products while creating jobs and saving consumers money. I welcome BYD with open arms and look forward to growing California’s relationship with China to mutually benefit the environment and economy."

Schwarzenegger has been working to develop a strong relationship between California and China in order to protect the environment and grow the economy. He also has made it a priority to create a consistent, long-term and market-friendly energy policy in California.

Most recently, Schwarzenegger signed SB 71, which created a sales tax exemption for companies purchasing green-tech manufacturing equipment in California, and AB 510, which will raise the net energy metering requirement from 2.5 percent to 5 percent.

Other policies include:

• Million Solar Roofs Initiative - A $2.9 billion incentive plan for home and building owners who install solar electric systems, now known as the California Solar Initiative, will lead to one million solar roofs in California by the year 2018; provide 3,000 megawatts of clean energy; and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 3 million tons.
• Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32): This established a first-in-the-world comprehensive program of regulatory and market mechanisms to achieve real, quantifiable, cost-effective reductions of greenhouse gas emissions. The law will reduce carbon emissions in California to 1990 levels by 2020.
• Renewable Portfolio Standard: In September 2009, Schwarzenegger signed an executive order directing the California Air Resources Board to adopt regulations increasing the California Renewables Portfolio Standard to 33 percent by 2020.
• Low Carbon Fuel Standard: California’s LCFS requires fuel providers to reduce the carbon intensity of transportation fuels sold in the state, dramatically expanding the market for alternative fuels. To start, the LCFS will reduce carbon content in all passenger vehicle fuels sold in California by at least 10 percent by 2020, and more thereafter.
• Automobile Emissions Standards: After years of fighting the federal government for the authority to implement our greenhouse gas emissions standards for cars, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency granted California’s waiver and President Barack Obama's administration adopted it for the country.

Check out this employment and career video production for BYD:

Although the retail trade industry has lost some workers during the economic downturn, it continues to attract employees and remain popular. During January, the industry employed 12,381,000 workers and had an unemployment rate of 10.9 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Two of the biggest employee-related concerns in the retail industry are employee theft and turnover. Employers often guard themselves from these possibilities by properly screening candidates before hiring them, which can help improve employee retention.

Here are some sample background checks you may undergo as a job seeker or employee in the retail industry:

• Social Security number trace - This ensures that the Social Security number provided by an applicant is associated with an individual of the same name and date of birth. It also includes an address history, which is used as the reference point for court jurisdictions to research criminal records.
• Employment verifications - This verifies the information on an applicant's resume, including dates of employment, starting and ending positions and salaries, reason for termination and eligibility for rehire. It also may include interviews with previous employers.
• Pre-employment credit report - These reports, which are provided by one of the three nationwide credit bureaus, offer insight into an applicant's reliability and sense of personal responsibility. Reports can include derogatory credit information; public filings such as bankruptcies, liens and judgments; account standing with creditors and previous address history.
• County criminal record searches - This consists of an on-site manual search of the superior, upper, lower and municipal court records available in each county. These searches will indicate if an applicant has had a felony, misdemeanor or infraction filing within the last seven years or longer. Completed reports may include date of arrest, date of filing, charges, level of charges, disposition date, final disposition of charges and any applicable sentence or penalty.
• National criminal database searches - These aggregate databases are comprised of millions of records from various sources throughout the country. Records are obtained by commercial vendors from county court houses, state departments of incarcerations, state record repositories, probation departments, townships and sex offender registries.
• Sex offender registry - This multi-state database search provides sex offender case information from bureaus of investigation, departments of law enforcement, departments of corrections, departments of justice, departments of public safety, Sheriff's departments, state attorney general's offices and state police.
• Substance abuse screening - This allows employers to screen candidates for various drugs through urine, hair and saliva-based testing.

The global headquarters of FreeLife International recently opened in Phoenix. The company has made a commitment to supply quality, high-paying jobs for Arizona residents. FreeLife International has already created 100 positions and plans to grow that number to 300 jobs during the next three years.

"As we work to revitalize Arizona's economy, FreeLife's decision to establish and grow its world headquarters in Phoenix is a powerful sign we are on the right path," Gov. Jan Brewer said. "These are real jobs and these are real economic opportunities for Arizona families and for the team here at FreeLife."

The multi-level marketing company, which was founded in 1995, currently operates in 26 countries and chose Arizona for its world headquarters after conducting a national search. FreeLife International sells nutritional products and is listed among the Inc. 500 Direct Sales companies.

"The central part of our mission at FreeLife is to serve others and we see many opportunities to contribute to our new community in the Phoenix area," FreeLife International President Kevin Fournier said. "We look forward to making a difference here, as we fulfill our commitment to help people realize their full potential.”

FreeLife International plans to put Phoenix in the spotlight for the multiple annual conventions it holds that bring in international salespeople and business executives. The company also is focused on being more environmentally friendly and its new headquarters received a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Standards silver certification.

"FreeLife International's move to Phoenix is a great fit - bringing hundreds of high-wage jobs to a city with a talented workforce," Mayor Phil Gordon said. "Phoenix's location, skilled and diverse labor force, and economic climate have always been the keys to our success in attracting quality jobs and industry leaders."

Cruise Holidays recently announced that it will offer a comprehensive online training curriculum that agencies can use to attract, train and retain outside sales agents. The online programs consist of videos and live and pre-recorded Webinars.

"The initial feedback from our franchise owners has been overwhelmingly positive, mainly because it will help them find new ways to grow by supporting their independent contractors and agents," Mark Schiffner, vice president of Cruise Holidays, said. "Two of the biggest problems facing our owners today is finding good people, and finding time to train and support them. We are now providing a training framework so they can be more successful."

The outside agent training program consists of more than 50 hours of programming, which covers almost all the steps it takes to get started as an independent contractor. Training categories include: setting up a home office, an introduction to the cruise and tour industries and Cruise Holidays programs for more profitability.

The program allows most training to be completed on an agent's own time, making it easy for them to start, stop and review lessons whenever they wish.

Cruise Holidays is the oldest cruise-specialty retail franchise in North America. The company, which also provides land tour vacation packages, has stores and home-based franchises in the United States and Canada.

Founded in 1984, the company is part of the Travel Leaders group, an organization that has about 1,500 travel agency locations throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Finding the right ATS and implementing the software can be quite an undertaking, but the end benefits of saving time and money are well worth the effort. If you've begun researching ATS, you have undoubtedly found several different products from several different sites.

While there are many recommendations and opinions to sift through, you might benefit most from looking through an ATS directory. Many good directories will allow vendors to post information about their products for free.

Here is a list of the top ATS directories from ERE.net:

• TheATSGuide - This directory has 183 listings, 31 of which are detailed and 152 of which are basic. The site offers vendors the ability to post detailed and basic information for free. A new feature will include an "Ask the Experts" page.
• TalentManagementTech - This directory has 141 listings. The site has a community feel and allows vendors to post ATS information to a directory as well as start discussions, create blogs and post news releases. The site as a whole is a great resource for ATS and talent management information.
• RecruitingTools - This site - which was created by TalentBar, RecruitingBlogs and Job Boarders - has 34 listings. Even though it's small and relatively new, the directory has the potential to grow and currently offers 28 different categories of recruiting tools.
• Capterra - This directory has more than 200 listings. The site allows vendors to post basic information for free and offers pay models for better placement on the list and additional description information.